THE CONTROL OF NATURE

Decades after its publication, this audiobook by John McPhee retains its relevance. The author's poetic writing style--rendered equally poetically by narrator Grover Gardner--is inviting. The book covers three regions and humanity's attempts to control them--the lower Mississippi River, mountains outside Los Angeles, and an Icelandic volcano. McPhee's straightforward sentence structures translate well to audio, as does his use of metaphor, which renders complex subjects in terms listeners can understand and appreciate. Gardner's pace also makes it easier for listeners to follow technical discussions. The author's message is that humanity has no choice but to try to control natural forces, but we should also strive harder to live as part of nature. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2025]